VIMooZ

Human Rights Watch Film Festival Returns to Toronto, Opens on February 26 with Putin’s Kiss

The 10th Human Rights Watch Film Festival with a 10-film lineup of “politically charged, inspiring and empowering stories covering themes of oppression, struggle and resilience” opens on February 26, 2013 at TIFF Bell Lightbox with Lise Birk Pedersen’s Putin’s Kiss (2012), a documentary/coming-of-age story about life in contemporary Russia as experienced by Masha Drokova, a middle-class youth activist and member of the anti-fascist group Nashi. The festival runs until March 7.

Highlights include a focus on women’s issues with Jeremy Teicher’s Tall as the Baobab Tree (2012), set in a rural African village poised at the outer edge of the modern world where a girl hatches a secret plan to rescue her 11-year-old sister from an arranged marriage, and Atiq Rahimi’s The Patience Stone (2012), a gripping film about a woman in an unnamed, war-torn Middle Eastern country who delivers an engrossing, liberating monologue to her comatose husband.

The full lineup of films:

TIFF Next Wave Film Festival to Kick Off on February 15

TIFF unveiled today the lineup of film screenings and special events for the 2013 TIFF Next Wave Film Festival scheduled for February 15 to 17.

This second edition of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival will again kick off with the Battle of the Scores — a high-profile showcase for young musical and filmmaking talent, featuring high-school indie bands scoring youth-made short films live in front of an audience and a panel of professional judges from the Toronto music and film community, including film composer Adrian Ellis, and director, actor and choreographer Corey Bowles.

The festival’s Closing Night film is April Mullen’s Dead Before Dawn 3D (2012), described as a hilariously clever coming-of-age adventure story that puts a whole new spin on the zombie genre. Starring director Mullen and writer/producer Tim Doiron, the film was shot in Niagara Falls, Ontario and it follows a group of college students that accidentally unleash an evil curse that causes people to kill themselves and turn into Zemons, aka Zombie Demons.

Film lineup includes:

2013 Beaufort International Film Festival to run February 13 – 17, Announces Finalists

Death By China - Peter Navarro — Death By China – Peter Navarro

The Beaufort International Film Festival scheduled for February 13 – 17, 2013 in Beaufort, South Carolina, is gearing up to be a huge event. Tickets officially went on sale earlier this week.

Ron Tucker, President of the Beaufort Film Society, the organizer of the festival, said more than 7,000 people participated in last year’s festival and he expects an even greater turnout this year. “We will present more than thirty screenings to include shorts, documentaries, animated films and student productions and we look forward to hosting some exciting special guests and celebrities again this year. This may be our best festival yet.”

Among the events, Mike Tollin, Director of the film, Radio, which was shot in the Lowcountry (Walterboro) in 2003, will accept the Jean Ribaut Award for Excellence in Filmmaking. The real life “Radio”, James Robert Kennedy (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.), and Coach Harold Jones (played by Ed Harris), will also attend the festival.

Indie filmmaker Chris Brinker, producer and director of the soon-to-be-released motion picture, Whisky Bay, will conduct a Q and A on the making of the film along with the film’s star, Tom Berenger. Brinker will also be honored by the festival with the inaugural Robert Smalls Indie Vision Award, named after the Civi War hero who rose from being a slave to a U. S. Congressman.

And for the films, the festival announced the finalists in categories including Animation, Documentary, Shorts, Student Films, Screen Play, Best Actor and Best Director.

Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony to be held the evening of February 16.

BIFF 2013 Finalists

15 Films added to 2013 Santa Barbara International Film Festival line-up

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which begins Thursday, January 24, 2013, has added 15 films to the already stellar lineup of films being showcased at this year’s festival, including three Academy Award nominees, two World Premieres and two US Premieres.

“We’ve added some fantastic new films that broaden the scope of the program and embody the international spirit of the festival,” commented Michael Albright, SBIFF’s Director of Programming.

World Premieres being added are:

The international premiere of Stoker Starring Nicole Kidman to Close 2013 International Film Festival Rotterdam

The international premiere of Stoker, the English debut of South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy, Thirst, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), will close the 2013 International Film Festival Rotterdam on Saturday February 2. Park has won many awards, including the Alfred Bauer Award of the Berlin film festival (for I’m a Cyborg) and the jury prize of the Cannes film festival (for Oldboy and Thirst). The closing film is a psychological drama/thriller starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, […]

SXSW Film 2013 to Open With The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Plus Announces 6 Films

SXSW 2013 will open with the world premiere of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. Starring Steve Carell, and Steve Buscemi, with costars Carrey, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin and James Gandolfini, the film is described by the festival as a “hilarious, uproarious comedy.” As superstar Vegas magicians and former best friends Burt and Anton grow to secretly loathe each other, their long-time act implodes, allowing an ambitious rival street performer the big break he’s been waiting for.

Joining The Incredible Burt Wonderstone are 6 films including Alex Winter’s Napster documentary Downloaded, the long awaited Evil Dead remake and new films from Harmony Korine and Joe Swanberg. The documentary Good Ol’ Freda and the debut of Everyone’s Going to Die complete the first 6 films announced for the 20th SXSW Film Conference and Festival.

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2013 Thematic Program and Tribute to Honor Jessica Yu

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival has announced its 2013 Thematic Program and Tribute celebrating the work of Academy Award winning filmmaker Jessica Yu.

The program will be curated by Amir Bar-Lev director of the documentary films “Fighter” (2001), “My Kid Could Paint That” (2007), and “The Tillman Story” (2010). He co-produced the documentary “Trouble The Water” (2008), which won the 2008 Full Frame Grand Jury Award and was a 2009 Academy Award Nominee. Bar-Lev is currently directing “Happy Valley”, about the Penn State scandal.

Tribeca Film to Present Alex Karpovsky Double Feature Theatrical Release In New York City February 22 2013

Tribeca Film will release two upcoming features from writer/director/actor Alex Karpovsky (“Girls”) – Red Flag and Rubberneck – in a unique double feature theatrical run at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center in New York, starting on February 22, 2013.

PBS Continues Commitment to Independent Films in 2013 – Short Film Festival and Independent Film Showcase Announced

The Waiting Room - A film by Peter Nicks — The Waiting Room – A film by Peter Nicks

PBS continues it support of independent film with the return of the second annual Online Film Festival and the Independent Film Showcase in the Fall.

PBS’ Online Film Festival, beginning March 4 will showcase 25 short films and viewers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite short film from March 4 through March 22; the film with the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award.The winning film will be announced in early April.

Additionally, this fall, PBS will present a four-week Independent Film Showcase with programs airing Monday nights at 10 p.m.(broadcast dates TBD). The Showcase will feature films from the landmark series POV and INDEPENDENT LENS.

The featured films include the following (air dates are TBD):

Variance Films to Release An Oversimplification Of Her Beauty

Variance Films will release Terence Nance’s award-winning debut, AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY in US and Canadian theaters beginning April 12th, 2013. Cinema Guild will then release the film on DVD and digital platforms in late summer 2013.

AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY, which debuted at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and winner of 2012 Gotham Award for “Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You” documents the relationship between Terence and a lovely young woman (Namik Minter) as it teeters on the divide between platonic and romantic. Utilizing a tapestry of live action and multiple styles of animation, Terence explores the fantasies, emotions, and memories that race through his mind as he examines and re-examines a singular moment in time. Executive producers of the film include Jay-Z, Wyatt Cenac, Dream Hampton, and Joy Bryant.

DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2012

The Directors Guild of America today announced the nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentaries for the year 2012.

The winners will be announced at the 65th Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 2, 2013, hosted by director/actor/producer Kelsey Grammer.

The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2012 are (in alphabetical order):

Amour Among 2013 Golden Globes Winners

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association handed out the annual Golden Globes last night in Hollywood, and Ben Affleck’s Argo was the night’s biggest winner, taking home awards for best picture and director in a motion picture. Another winner, Michael Haneke picked up the best foreign film award for Amour, which now seems to be a lock on the same award in the upcoming Academy Awards.

The winners of the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards for Motion Pictures

Popular Articles

Trending Films